Re: Apples.....lots and lots of lovely apples........!

I think these will make a very nice cider or wine. In general, cider apples are higher in acid, sugar and tannin, than "eating" apples, but these are things you can compensate for by 1) using a variety of apples, 2) adding sugar, acid and/or tannin to the must before fermentation, 3) adding some crabapples or grannies to the mix.

Here are the sugar, acid and tannin levels for most common cider apples:

And here is another article worth reading:

I always shoot for a starting SG of 1100, and an acid level of at least 0.7%, and use malic acid or a 40:40:20 "acid blend" to bring it up if necessary. If you add sugar, test the acid after chapitalization, not before. I don't know how to measure tannin, other than by taste. I prefer to obtain any additional tannin by oaking.

I've found that a mix of granny smith and macintosh apples makes an excellent cider, and that a 50:50 mix of grannies and delicious apples (which are normally considered a "no-no" for cider) will make a passable one. Braeburns work well when mixed with grannies as well.

Good luck!

You better get some carboys and get some wine going. You are falling way behind!

On those blackberries, just realize that humans are not the only ones they nourish. Birds and terrapins and insects as well as bears if any are left. They are there for those willing to harvest them. It that is the beasties then that is who they are for.

But they sure make nice wine. ;o) Ray

I know - I'm such a total losy slacker!

Heh - no bears or terrapins here in England!

There are so many around, I couldn't hope to pick enough to deprive and of the critters of their share.

Truth!

',;~}~

Shaun aRe

;o0 Oh my goodness -- all those berries going to waste and no bears or terrapins. You definately need to introduce them to the contryside!

;o) Ray

Add the crab apples about 1 in 10, but not much more, or it will taste like Guinness. :)

I think my picking wild fruit must be contagious! Now my mother in law has picked me a 5 gal bucket of crab apples, a couple of gallons of wild plums, and found scads of elderberries and choke cherries. She called me with the news of her harvest and other fruit discovery, asking should I pick more? Heck ya! Why not? There is still room in the freezer. I love Oregon!

I think my picking wild fruit must be contagious! Now my mother in law has picked me a 5 gal bucket of crab apples, a couple of gallons of wild plums, and found scads of elderberries and choke cherries. She called me with the news of her harvest and other fruit discovery, asking should I pick more? Heck ya! Why not? There is still room in the freezer. I love Oregon!

Sounds to me like it is time for a wild fruit cocktail wine.

Ray

You say that almost as if it's a bad thing! :D

Actually I like Guinness, but Scrumpy should taste like Scrumpy, Arrr?

I think the fruit cocktail wine is an excellent idea! I usually end up with a cocktail at the end of the year. I take all of the dregs ofter I rack or bottle and put them into a carboy labled "swamp water". At the end of the year, it's bottled up. So far they have been less than great. Kind of a fun way to use up something that would have been dumped down the drain. I have considered trying two or three fruits, like "choke the wild plum" or "the aronious elder grape", but it would be fun to just throw them all in and see what you get. Thad

True that...

Heheheheh - thanks folks! ',;~}~

Shaun 'Arrrrr!'

Ooooo, juicy! Nice going ',;~}~

Shaun aRe

I bottled some of the mixed fruit and flower wine (that first brought me here) last night - still sweet, but looking good!

Kath and I had a couple pf glasses of it, and it is pretty damned spectacular in flavour and colour! With its rich flavour, high alcohol (guessing 17+ %) and extra sweetness, its almost like a 'wine cordial' - would probably go good with some sparkling spring water as a spritzer ',;~}~

Shaun aRe

He - nope! Think I'll leave the bears to you guys, heheheheh!

Shaun aRe

Shaun,

Could you translate " 'Ecky thump" to American? I remember hearing that in the Monty Python language school sketch but have no idea what it meant.

Paul

What Negodki said ',;~}~

Cheers!

Shaun aRe

Nah, they're just woolly people.

Shaun aRe ',;~}~